249 mph

[N3322G]

So, who needs speed mods when you have tailwinds?

It was a very pleasant surprise to have healthy tailwinds at 7,000 for the whole route that took our ground speed to 216 kts or 249 mph at 22.5 in and 2400 rpm.

The previous family record for Texas to Chicago was 3:45 in the Twin and we would have beat it by 15-20 minutes if we'd used the same airports. We did take a 5 hour flight down to 3:50 and had to throttle back as we approached the airport at 3,000 level at 20 in and 2400 rpm and we still had 160 kts or 184 mph - the normal stock PA39 24/24 cruise speed.

Don't see this very often so if you didn't get to fly our fabulous Comanches today, you can live vicariously.

And for those who enjoy humor - the return trip had almost exactly the same winds two days later and took 6:10. The only way I could avoid stopping for fuel en route was to throttle back, oh yeah, can you say 122kts? I could land and fuel in temperatures in the high 90s or throttle back and stay at 8,000. hmmm. Well at least I really like the guy in the right seat and we had human element range extender on board - which, when filled, is a.k.a. DNA-flavored water.

Hope everyone gets to fly winds like these at some point.

[fowlerflaps]

Tailwinds are great! About 2 weeks I did KFSD-KCDW approximately 1050nm with a few small vectors in 5hrs. I saw ground speeds upwards of 210kts until hitting western NY. My average GS was just over 203kts for the entire trip. Started at 11k then down to 8k for detroit class B corridors then back up to 9k to finish the trip. Normally aspirated pa30c with tip-tanks..... Oh yea and also did KACV-KFSD in 7 hours exactly, at FL15, the average gs for the little ol' NA twinco 175kts.....I love flying westbound!!! All this being done at a magical 12-15gph TOTAL.....

chad

[N3322G]

Chad,

My Twin is normally aspirated too.

Enjoyed reading about your fast trips.

What surprised me most was I got such consistent tailwinds under 10 K for the whole 800 miles.

Oh and the return trip, we filed IFR and planned to go around Chicago Class B as we had inbound. I'll be darned, they amended the clearance and took us exactly over the top of O'Hare - so cool.

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

And you were looking for a different airplane...Chad, I hazard a guess you are now thoroughly hooked on the twinco! Aren't tip tanks great!
-Zach

[fowlerflaps]

Zach they truly are great birds...most of the cons are easily outweighed by the pros, it's hard to deny it. Although I'm positive you already new that. Tip-tanks are a must! I got such a kick out of flying coast to coast with one stop plus the added options for IFR flight with all that extra fuel!

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

Just did a trip to GA today. Step aside all of you twins :-0...OK, in all seriousness, I am now 31 mph faster than book at 10k'.Book speed for a Comanche 180 is 146mph TAS at 60 % power and todays conditions (DA approx 11000, 60% power of 19.5" mp, 2200rpm, 8.3gph). I wish I could attach the pics. Had a slight left quartering crosswind that resulted in about a 4 kt headwind component. Groundspeed 149-154 kts the entire trip, exactly following the TAS of 176-180 mph, rain and turbulance excepted, it was a very efficent trip! Just wish the pics would attach...Im happy...tough to beat any Comanche!
-Zach

PS-a bonanza was trying to out run me...controller made a comment that he needed to do a little better if he was going to get higher...

[N3322G]

Way to go Zach!

[Tony Scarpelli]

I got a few hours in a very upgraded modified Comanche 180 flying from Portland, OR to NYC, NY.

It has the bulsa wood tips that looked like tip tanks, single tine forks, root wing fairing and some other stuff- I think the Arapaho windsheild and tail. The plane was indicating (adjusted for altitude and temps) 152-154 knots the whole way. We were at 11,500' with as much power as was feasable in a NA 180 hp. The GS according to the GPS was about 175-177 knots most of the trip (going west to east).

This bird had me 300#+ pilot, Sanjay a normal sized guy, full fuel and light bags. It took off and climbed out like 800-900 fpm for quite a while.

For the difference in cost, maintenance and fuel, it made me wonder why pay extra for the Turbos and 250 on my aircraft.

I got new respect for the Comanche 180 and I am sorry for anything I have every said out of ignorance about them before actually flying one. This is a capable bird and I don't think most Arrows would hold a candle to it.